Book-holder



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

LA VERNE W. NOYES.

. BOOK HOLDER.

No. 311,515. Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

%'l rzesses:

(No Model.) e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. LA VERNE W. NOYES.

BOOK HOLDER.

No. 311,515. Patented Feb. 3, 1885.

Warren grates Parnivr Fries.-

LA VERNE "W. NOYES, OF CHICAGO, ILLIITOIS.

BOOK-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,515, dated February 3, 1885.

(X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, LA VERNE W. Novas, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders, which are fully set forth in the annexed drawings and specification.

My invention relates to that class of bookholders which have become known by the title of dictionary-holders, being designed more particularly for the accommodation of large volumes which are needed to be kept at hand for convenient reference, and for which, therefore, it is desirable to provide a support independent of any desk or table.

A purpose of my invention is to provide such a dictionary-holder so constructed that when'closed, although held in an edgewise position, back downward, the weight of the book shall not, as is the case in many similar devices, rest upon the back of the book itself, thereby tending to loosen the binding and allow it within the limits of its retaining-case to sprawl open, but which, on the contrary, shall be so arranged that the weight of the book shall be converted into lateral pressure tending to hold it firmly closed, precisely as if it were lying flat upon its side, and also in which the weight of the book shall with equal certainty tend to hold it open when once opened. This purpose I design to accomplish without the use of any springs or any other uncertain means of retaining the book closed 'or open, and to accomplish it also in such a manner and by such devices that, although the only force employed to hold the book either closed or open is the weight of the book itself, that weight shall be equally effective for either purpose, whether it be equally divided between the two supports, as when the book is opened at the middle, or all thrown upon one of them, as when it shall be opened near the'beginning or end.

It consists, further, in the combination, with the devices for the purpose above stated, of a device for adjusting the angle of inclination of the book and its holder, and for so adjusting it that whatever be the inclination, the weight of the book shall still operate in the manner described through the devices above mentioned.

Figure 1 is a view of my dictionary-holder with the book in place closed, looked at from the'back of the stand-that is, from the top of the book. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the book is shown open. Fig. 4 is a side view of the same as Fig. 3, except that the book is removed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge view showing details of construction of the device whereby the angle of inclination is adjusted. Fig. 6 is a front View of the same.

Reference being had to these figures, A A are the two book rests or shelves upon which the two side covers of the book are supported. They have each a ledge or flange, (1, upon the lowerthat is to say, the frontedge, to prevent the book from sliding forward when placed inclined. To the back or under side of each ofthese book-rests A is secured a plate, a, to which is pivoted, by the 6211866 the yokes B, having the stop-arm b, which,when the book is opened, as in Fig. 3, forms a stop-rest for the shelf A. p

O is a supporting-stem adjustable verticaliy through the collar cl in the tripod-standard D. It terminates above in the tubular socket c; or it may be tubular throughout. The yokes B and B are connected with a plate, E, each by links .F and G and F and G, pivoted, respectively, to the yokes at f, g, f, and g, and pivoted at f and g and f and 9", respectively, to the plate E. The ends thus pivoted to the plate E are given the form of segment-pinions Hand H and G and G. The yokes B B are formed with the two elbows. To the said yokes are pivoted the links F and F. The distance from the pivotal point of the yokes and links added to the length of the links F or F, is calculated according to the size of the book designed to be supported by the device, and should be such as to bring the pivot c less than half the distance from the center of'tlle book-toits edge, so that the center of gravity of the portion of the book sustainedby either rest when the book lies open, as in Fig. 8, shall be outside of the pivot a The links F and G are designed to be substantially of the sainelength, but having the ends f and g pivoted to the' yoke closer together than the ends and G pivoted to the plate E. The result of this arrangement of parts will be that when the book is placed in the support closed, as in Fig. 1, the center of gravity being within the pivotal points B, the weight, acting downward, tends to throw the two yokes closer together, and thereby to compress the book between the rests A. Particularly does this result "by reason of the fact that the links G are in this position substantiallyhorizontal, while the links F are in the lower quadrant of the vertical circle about the pivotal points f and f, so that farther downward motion of the yokes would throw the points fandf downward to a greater extent than the points 9 and g, the resultant effect being as if the yokes were pivoted rigidly at g and g and drawn inward by force applied atf and f, thereby carrying the points a still farther inward. XVhen, however, the book is opened, it is opened against this tendency to close until the centers of gravity of the two parts of the book pass outside of the pivotal points a, the direction of motion of the, points a being upward and outward in a curvethe resultant of the compound motion about the duplex pivots f, f, g, and g From this point the weight of the book will tend to carry it open, being exerted outside of the point a and will continue to so act until the motion is arrested by the shelf A coming against the shelf-stop b. This is the position shown ,in Fig. 3. When in this position, the links F and F are substantially horizontal, while the links G and G are in the upper quarter of their vertical motion about the pivots g and g. The entire action of the weight of the book at this point tends, if possible, to open wider the yokes B B, and by reason of the fact that that tendency is arrested by the stop-rests, the situation is one of stable equilibrium. An effect equivalent to the compound gear-and-link connection may be secured by substituting for the gearlinks G and G other means of guiding the lower end of the yokes or supporting-arms B B; for the requisite being that the motion of the lower end from the open to the closed position of shelves A should be downward and preferably outward, but at least not inward, various mechanical equivalents will occur to any mechanic, the simplest, perhaps, being a guiding-groove which might be provided on the plate E, extended for that purpose to receive a stud on the end of the yokes.

N N are flexible back-straps, connecting the cover-shelves A A, being fastened one end to each of them. In the drawings, Fig. 2, these straps are shown in dotted line, being on the hidden side of the shelf A in that figure. I prefer to fasten these'straps, as shown, on the innerthat is to say, the upper-side of the cover-shelves A, and at a little distance from the edge. The advantage of so attaching them is that thereby the book is held as in a sling, and its weight thereby acts, as applied to the cover, vertically at the point. The fulcrum of the shelf, considered as a lever, being the weight of the book will tend to throw the upper edges of the shelves closer together, the back of the book hanging free in the sling formed by the back-straps N N. Thus, if the book-covers are sprung, or if for any reason the book has a tendency to open, thereby eX- posing the leaves to dust and dampness, such tendency is corrected and the book held more securely closed than if it were lying on its side on a horizontal support.

J is a notched disk, terminating below in thespindle J, inserted in the socket ofthe supporting-stem O.

K is an ear upon the front or under side of the plate E, rooted at right angles with it, substantially at its vertical center line. To and close against this car the disk J is pivoted at its center.

L is a spring catch or tooth, secured to the plate E, springing down alongside of the ear K, adapted to engage in the notches of the disk J, and thereby to secure the book-holder at any desired inclination.

Horizontal rotary motion of the entire device is made possible by means of the insertion of the spindle J" in the tubular socket of the stem 0.

At any convenient point below the book, holding devices are attached to and work about the plate E. There may be secured to the stem Othe paper-holding device M, formed of wire, substantially as shown, consisting of two spring-leaves, between which and the stem 0 there may be inserted and securely held any fiat book or paper.

I prefer to form the tripod which supports this entire device with casters or rollers, as illustrated. Any desired form of caster may be employed for this purpose.

The mode of operation of my device will be sufficiently understood from the foregoing de scription of its structure and parts.

I claim as my invention- 1. In abook-holder, the combination of a pair of folding shelves, a pair of supporting arms pivotally connected thereto, a rigid support, and two pairs of connecting-links which are connected one pair to each arm and all to the support, and provided at their contiguous ends with intermeshing gears.

2. The combination ofthe folding shelves A A and the supporting-armsB B with the gearlinks F F and G G, and with their common rigid support, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses, at the city of Chicago, Illinois, this 17th day of March, 1883.

LA VERNE W. NOYES. Attest:

J AS. T. HOYNE, GHAs. S. BURTON.

IIO 

